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Recovery advocates and a survivor tell commissioners opioid settlement money is funding Narcan access and local grants
Summary
Speakers described how roughly $2.5 million in opioid settlement dollars is being directed under a county‑approved Blade Coalition blueprint toward prevention, treatment, justice‑system interventions and harm reduction, including a Narcan vending machine at the jail and community grants for recovery services.
A Blade Coalition representative told the Crow Wing County Board the coalition and county public‑health partners have developed an opioid crisis response blueprint to guide use of an estimated $2.5 million from the federal opioid settlement and related state allocations. The plan identifies six primary strategies spanning prevention, justice system responses, treatment and harm reduction.
Kalyn Collette, introduced by the Blade presenter, gave personal testimony about repeated fentanyl overdoses and credited community supports for her recovery. "Narcan isn't just important to save the lives of people with chronic addiction who might find recovery someday," she said, adding that Narcan also saves people who try drugs at a party or children who encounter fentanyl. Collette described being revived by Narcan and later working in addiction services; she also discussed medication‑assisted treatments such as Suboxone and the monthly injectable SUBLOCADE.
County staff told the board the county previously approved a Narcan vending machine in the jail and authorized up to $200,000 in community grants drawn from opioid funds. Recipients who spoke described how the grants were used. Paul, representing Timber Bay, said grant money reduced camp fees so an eighth‑grader could attend for $20, and described mentoring and work projects that engaged youth. Joe McKenzie of Relationship Safety Alliance said a $20,000 grant funded advocate training, a national training symposium, drug testing and medication lockboxes, and helped pay for a shelter roof repair; he reported the program served 245 community members and provided 612 services. Brian Andrews, director of the Lakes Area Restorative Justice Project, described using grant funding to expand staffing, case management and diversion programming for youth.
The Blade Coalition presenter told commissioners the group will bring two formal requests back to the board at a later date. Commissioners thanked presenters and recognized the grants and Narcan access as community supports, with one commissioner noting the county board had previously approved the vending machine and other harm‑reduction measures.
The board did not take a formal vote during the presentation; staff and coalition members said follow‑up items will return on a future agenda.
